The joint exhibition of artist Mathura and photographer Kaari Saarma intuitively scans one’s chance to be his or her own gardener. A garden is alive when both the wild and the cultivated get their share. The work is carried by the sense of directing your creation, but being unable to predestine its course. The pictures are like stopping points or gateways, the moments of awaiting the new buds.

The exhibition is on at Raplamaa Kaasaegse Kunsti Keskus from November 17 to December 2, Tuesdays to Sundays 3-6 P.M.

Come and join the artists for a tour of the exhibition and hear their story of it in the evening of December 2, at 18:00. All are welcome.
Photos by Kaari Saarma and Heiko Kruusi

PAINTINGS FROM TARTU
11.24 – 12.14, 2012
The Centre’s second major overview of contemporary Estonian painting focused on young painters from Tartu. More than 20 paintings by 11 authors took the audience on a journey through the realm of canvas and paint; from the enchanted harmony of a single moment, to a shocking larger-than-life portrait gallery of Tartu’s intellectual creme. Participants: Kalli Kalde, Peeter Krosmann, Ilmar Kruusamäe, Juka Käärmann, Margus Meinart, Rauno Thomas Moss, Sven Saag, Imat Suumann, Nadezda Tsernobai, Alar Tuul and Maris Tuuling. Peeter Krosmann helped us put the show together.

The jubilee exhibition of Estonian animation showed us how animators have, through decades, been depicting men, women, children, animals, crowds, relationships and everything in between. Key authors from past and present were represented – Rein Raamat, Avo Paistik, Priit and Olga Pärn, Heiki Ernits, Janno Põldma, Priit Tender, Ülo Pikkov and Kaspar Jancis. A film program was presented along with a gallery of celluloids. The exhibition was compiled by Valter Uusberg and designed by Erkki Vaader.

MERLE KANNUS
SERGEANT TIRR AND THE CASE OF THE FINGERPRINT
06.11 – 06.17, 2012
Merle Kannus (B.1972) graduated from the glass department of the Estonian Academy of Art. She works as a freelance artist and designer since 1995. This series of photo collages, which tells of the adventures of Sergeant Tirr, puts a parodic twist on the superhero myth in an oversized comic strip. Through his sleep, Sergeant Tirr heard the phone ring. He knew before he answered – this time it wasn’t going to be a walk in the park. It sure looks like this weekend it’s up to me to save the world, again – he sourly mused to himself. Had he known that the hardest part of his ordeal was going to be its happy end – perhaps the world as we know it wouldn’t exist today…

CONTEMPORARY ESTONIAN LITHOGRAPHY
05.09 – 05.20, 2012
The exhibition was put together from 30 works by well-known Estonian printmakers: Kadri Alesmaa, Toomas Altnurme, Merike Estna, Laurentsius, Kaido Ole, Marko Mäetamm, Jaak Visnap and others. The show was organized in cooperation with the Estonian Lithography Centre and featured mostly works from the ELC albums, the last of which was titled “Love in the 21st Century.”

AN UNKNOWN CITY
03.10 – 03.18, 2012
Herbert Orgusaar’s solo project told story of a city in Europe; a city that probably holds the world record of being photographed and filmed. The artist expressed his viewpoint through video collage, drawing the viewer along with it into the city’s pulse of life, its brief moments of mystery.